Just brew it, bru! (part II)

This is part II of the different brewing methods. If you missed the first one, make sure to check it out – Just brew it, bru! (part I).

We use the term “brew” in the coffee industry to define the process used when we prepare our coffee.

Coffee is brewed by following the basic steps of pouring hot water near boiling point onto coffee grounds, where they are allowed to brew for a few minutes. The coffee grounds are usually strained with either a paper filter or a metal or plastic mesh.

As we know, this can be done in so many different ways which results in bringing forward the different flavors and aromas unique to each coffee.

The different brewing methods:

The following brewing methods makes use of filtration and dripping to produce this golden drink.

The Chemex:

The Chemex is a pour-over method that can easily make 3-4 cups at once. A very high-skill is required to brew coffee and is not regarded as a simple method compared to the other dripping methods. It can produce one of the finest coffee flavors.

It has a hour-glass shaped flask that has a narrow, funnel-like neck. A heatproof, wooden collar surrounds the neck, allowing us to be able to handle it when wanting to pour out the coffee. It’s split in two and held together in place by a tied up leather thong. The Chemex makes use of proprietary filters. The filters are made of  paper that’s chemically bonded which removes most of the oils.

A filter is placed in the neck of the chemex with the coffee grounds. Water that’s been heated to between 82°C and 93°C will be used to moisten the ground coffee. This process is known as blooming. Pouring enough water to moisten the coffee grounds and allowed a few second to stand, before pouring the rest.

The Hario V60 Dripper:

The Hario V60 is a simple pour-over method, which is small and light, which makes it easy to take it with you wherever you go.

It’s a unique designed cone system making use of the dripping method. It has an inverted cone-shaped funnel with a large hole at the bottom. On the sides, spiral ribs are visible and extracts the coffee through the filter.

Paper filters are placed inside the Hario V60, using warm water to wet it slightly to remove the papery flavors. By doing this, it warms up the pot and dripper which minimizes heat loss. The excess water is poured out. Coffee grounds are placed in the filter, and the grounds are moistened evenly. The grounds are left for blooming for about 30 seconds. Water is added in an outward spiral, ensuring the coffee is saturated evenly. When the desired amount of water has been added, wait until all coffee has been extracted. Pour in and enjoy.

This brew is very rich in flavor and allows you to taste the different flavors and origin of the coffee. The Hario V60 brew is considered refreshing as it shows no sign of bitterness.

The Kalita Wave Dripper:

This brewing method is very similar to that of the Hario V60. The difference comes in at the cone used to brew the coffee.

It has a cone-shaped dripping system, but has a flat-bed. This ensures for even extraction of coffee as well as longer dwell times that leaves less room for error. The filters used for the Kalita Wave is different from the Hario V60, it has 20 waves molded into the filter. This reduces heat loss as contact with the dipper is minimized.

 

The Vietnamese Drip Filter:

It’s a small coffee pot that brews one cup of coffee at a time. It looks like a hat which you place on top of your coffee cup.

It’s an easy pour-over method that doesn’t require a lot of skill and takes about 4-5 minutes. You can just pour in your coffee grounds with water and you wait it out. As easy as that. This method is the best to use for making iced coffee.

This brew is a smoother and cleaner than the french press and has a much lighter bite than an espresso.

The Melitta Ready Set Joe Dripper:

Quite the mouth full for this dripper which is very popular under the campers. As it’s a plastic dripping cone, it’s super easy to just pop it in with your camping gear without the worries of it breaking.

It brews coffee in a flash. It’s a cheap piece of equipment for brewing coffee and it’s portable. It’s a cone-shaped dripper which you place over your cup for brewing 1 cup of coffee. You can just pop in your filter and coffee grounds with water and you ready to brew your cup of joe. It’s very easy to clean for when you want to re-use it.

The quality of the brew is not the same when compared to other dripping methods.

The Clever Dripper:

This dripper has a valve that controls the draining of the coffee. Clever right. Excuse the pun!

The Clever Dripper is a cross between a pour-over brewer and a french press, steeping method. It’s made of plastic that combines with control over the steeping times with a sediment-free cup. It makes use of #4 filters, add your grounds with water and allow some time for steeping. After the period of steeping, place the clever dripper on your cup and it activates the valve. The coffee will drain into your cup. Once again, clever!

It’s a full-immersion brewing method, which allows the brew to have the full flavor extracted and have a good body.

The Cold Drip Brewer:

The Cold Drip is a caffeine infused innovation that became one of the most popular coffee brews. When it comes to brewing a cold drip, this is definitely not recommended for the impatient at all. The brewing usually takes up to 10 hours and more, but can be stored for up to 2 weeks.

The coffee grounds are steeped in water which is at room temperature or chilled for a long period of time. It usually sits for 8 to 24 hours. It’s then filtered and drips into a reservoir. The rate of flow is controlled by a valve.

The resulting brew has a strong, intense flavor that has a sweeter taste due to it having a low acidity. You can taste the real origins of the bean and has a super smooth aftertaste.

I hope you loved reading more about the various brewing methods, and why not be bold and try some of them out. Let me know when you’ve been courageous enough to try them out and how it was.

Till the next cup of coffee.